Introducing...

The newest addition to our family! Born very early this morning, weighing 7 lb., 4 oz., and 20 1/2 inches long. He is such a sweet, easy-going baby. I can't wait to do his newborn portraits, but in the meantime, here is a quick pic taken at the hospital:

Finally Four!

At long last, my oldest daughter has finally turned four! She has been looking forward to this for a long time, and loves to remind us of her status as a now-four-year-old. I was a little worried about her photo session, since you all may have noticed she has acquired a bit of stage fright with the camera. It's been difficult to get her to relax and look natural, so I've been really trying to find the best way to work with her on this and I'm thrilled with the results!

First we had to find time between our busy schedules and the rainy weather, so it took us a few days with little slots of available time to do these...the first day was very windy--she toughed it out, but it was a rough half-hour for both of us. As soon as we had some nicer weather we took advantage of the opportunity and we REALLY had fun that day--she got into it and I love the shots I got of her! Since that day went so well, the last time we went out she pretty much took charge and I loved that she wanted to do that--she chose the location and I pretty much let her do her own thing as far as posing. So fun!

















I've never used this conversion before, but I loved it for this photo, which is one of my favorites!








Another big favorite of mine!


...and again in black and white just because I love it :)












And this one is all her:

Another Hand-Me-Down

A few weeks ago I posted some photos of my girls in the PJs and bathrobe that my oldest daughter had received for Christmas and recently passed along to her little sister. Here is another hand-me-down that was actually purchased for my younger daughter before she was even born. I believe it was the first outfit we received for her--my mom got a little ahead of herself right after finding out we were expecting a little girl as her first grandchild! :)

Since the dress was sized for a toddler, when our oldest later joined our family she became the first to wear it. I had her photo taken in it when a friend did our family pictures that winter, but since I didn't take them I'm not at liberty to post them here...this is a snapshot of her wearing it at church, though, taken with my point-and-shoot:



Now our little one is finally big enough to wear the outfit her grandmother got for her months before she was born. I decided to put her in the same chair where we had her sister's pictures done in it (the ones taken by my friend), and here is what I got:







...and one with her rocking horse

Winter Fun

A few weeks ago we had a nice, fresh snowfall followed by a few days of relatively warm temperatures, so I took my camera outside while the girls were playing. Their daddy built a "fort" around the swingset, and they spent some time climbing on that, playing on the swings and slides, making snowballs and snow angels--it was the best kind of snow for playing in!

Trying to make a snow angel












Crawling along the top of the "fort"






This is the look of someone who is about to pummel Mommy with a snowball...sorry kiddo, no throwing snowballs at Mommy when she's holding the camera! Bummer. :)


Helping Daddy by shoveling the porch.

Leaves!

The girls have been loving the leaves this fall! Last year they weren't very into the whole idea of jumping in a leaf pile, but now it is one of their favorite outdoor activities. We put their little slide on one side of the pile and they just have a ball. Earlier this week I took the camera out to get some shots of them playing before it got too dark out.

Here my oldest is raking more of the leaves back into the pile








We spent a good deal of time taking pics of her jumping off the slide to capture her in-flight






My little one found a black leaf and thought it was the coolest thing


Super-ecstatic about going down the slide!

Gorgeous State Park

Took my two favorite subjects to the state park in the town where I grew up. We got some nice environmental shots and had a lot of fun! We'll have to go back again sometime...it is pretty neat taking your own kids to a place where you spent a lot of time as a kid!



Oh no! A spider!!




Wading in the Upside-Down Bridge...ah, the memories!








The runaway












We left the state park, but then later found this little garden park in town that we had to stop and visit!






Favorite of the day